INVENT 2024 Finalist Profile: ZECO
Founders name: Graham Huddleston and Henry Whaley
What is your background?
Graham has 20+ years in construction, design and manufacturing. Business degree, property developer and mechanical engineer. Henry is a chartered accountant who was formerly Head of Climate Financed Emissions at NatWest group.
What problem are you solving?
First Circular wool fibre based insulation with superb thermal, acoustic and flame retardant properties. Totally recyclable, sustainable and affordable.
Who and where are your potential customers?
Tier 1 construction companies, private and social housing developers, architects, builders and anyone who owns a terribly insulated house or building. We will build on our existing customer base in the UK and Ireland before entering the EU and the global market.
What do you think is the potential for your business?
To reinstate UK and Ireland to world leaders in the textile industry by reducing demand for plastic carpet. Transform the insulation market towards a sustainable future and eliminate fuel poverty.
Where do you hope to be 5 years from now?
I hope to running Circular Catalyst proving the circular economy is not for social enterprises and charities but is profitable and the future for how we think about resources and how we make things better.